Anthropology Midterm Study Guide
★ ANTHROPOLOGY OF RELIGION ↷
1. Anthropology: The study of human societies and cultures and their development.
2. Cultural relativism: Respecting other religions and understanding not every culture does
things the way you do (no bias/judgment!)
3. Local praxis: Putting thought into action; Looking at reality, not what [religious] leaders
say we should do.
4. Holism: Viewing religion as part of a larger system.
5. Emics: The insider's view of a culture; understanding things from within.
6. Etics: The outsider's view of culture; looking at it from an external perspective.
7. Religion: Ever-changing complexes of beliefs, practices, and clergies that propose a
spiritual reality beyond that immediately available to the senses.
a. Types of religion ↴
i. Monism: Good and evil, pleasure and pain, etc. → one source.
ii. Dualism: Two contending forces (good & evil).
iii. Deism: “A creator” made the world but doesn’t intervene.
iv. Theism: Deities do intervene in the world and make miracles happen,
respond to prayers and requests, etc.
, 1. Forms of theism ↴
a. Monotheism: One and only god.
b. Polytheism: Many gods form a pantheon.
i. REMINDER: Greeks!
c. Pantheism: Creator = creation; nothing created the
universe, it has always existed with God.
d. Henotheist: Many gods, but one is more powerful.
b. Types of non-believers ↴
i. Atheist: A person who is without theism (without God).
1. “I don’t believe in god(s)”
ii. Agnostic: A person without knowledge (gnosis).
1. If asked, “Does God exist?” they would say “I don’t know.”
iii. Heretics: “Free choosers”; Someone whose beliefs or actions are
considered wrong because they disagree with generally accepted beliefs.
1. “I’m part of the religion but believe something different and other
believers dislike me.”
a. Heresy: Belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious
(especially Christian) doctrine.
iv. Schismatic: A baptized person who identifies as a Christian but refuses to
submit to the pope or fellowship with other church members.
1. “I’m Christian but I reject the authority of the pope or church
leadership”
, v. Sectarian: A tendency to favor a particular truth or a perversion of one,
often with the expectation of personal gain (Devil’s Advocate).
1. “I’m loyal to my group and think everyone else is wrong.”
a. This can lead to a division and the formation of a sect!
vi. Pagans: “The rural folk”; Believers of nature-based religions.
1. “I don’t follow mainstream religions; I believe in multiple gods or
nature spirits.”
vii. Blasphemers: Those who speak unholy things.
1. “I’m disrespecting/insulting holy things.”
viii. Excommunication: The action of officially excluding someone from
participation in services of the Christian Church.
1. Anathema: A formal declaration of excommunication by a pope
or a council of the Church.
8. Animism: The belief that there are animated souls or spirits that permeate nature and
existence (e.g., streams, rocks, soil, animals, etc have souls)
a. REMINDER: Pocahontas!
9. Ethnocentrism: Evaluating other cultures according to the standards and customs of
one's own culture.
a. “My culture is better than your culture.”
10.Epistemology: The theory of knowledge and investigation of what distinguishes justified
belief from opinion.
a. “How do we know what we know?”
11.Eschatology: The study of the end of times, final judgment, and destiny.
★ ANTHROPOLOGY OF RELIGION ↷
1. Anthropology: The study of human societies and cultures and their development.
2. Cultural relativism: Respecting other religions and understanding not every culture does
things the way you do (no bias/judgment!)
3. Local praxis: Putting thought into action; Looking at reality, not what [religious] leaders
say we should do.
4. Holism: Viewing religion as part of a larger system.
5. Emics: The insider's view of a culture; understanding things from within.
6. Etics: The outsider's view of culture; looking at it from an external perspective.
7. Religion: Ever-changing complexes of beliefs, practices, and clergies that propose a
spiritual reality beyond that immediately available to the senses.
a. Types of religion ↴
i. Monism: Good and evil, pleasure and pain, etc. → one source.
ii. Dualism: Two contending forces (good & evil).
iii. Deism: “A creator” made the world but doesn’t intervene.
iv. Theism: Deities do intervene in the world and make miracles happen,
respond to prayers and requests, etc.
, 1. Forms of theism ↴
a. Monotheism: One and only god.
b. Polytheism: Many gods form a pantheon.
i. REMINDER: Greeks!
c. Pantheism: Creator = creation; nothing created the
universe, it has always existed with God.
d. Henotheist: Many gods, but one is more powerful.
b. Types of non-believers ↴
i. Atheist: A person who is without theism (without God).
1. “I don’t believe in god(s)”
ii. Agnostic: A person without knowledge (gnosis).
1. If asked, “Does God exist?” they would say “I don’t know.”
iii. Heretics: “Free choosers”; Someone whose beliefs or actions are
considered wrong because they disagree with generally accepted beliefs.
1. “I’m part of the religion but believe something different and other
believers dislike me.”
a. Heresy: Belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious
(especially Christian) doctrine.
iv. Schismatic: A baptized person who identifies as a Christian but refuses to
submit to the pope or fellowship with other church members.
1. “I’m Christian but I reject the authority of the pope or church
leadership”
, v. Sectarian: A tendency to favor a particular truth or a perversion of one,
often with the expectation of personal gain (Devil’s Advocate).
1. “I’m loyal to my group and think everyone else is wrong.”
a. This can lead to a division and the formation of a sect!
vi. Pagans: “The rural folk”; Believers of nature-based religions.
1. “I don’t follow mainstream religions; I believe in multiple gods or
nature spirits.”
vii. Blasphemers: Those who speak unholy things.
1. “I’m disrespecting/insulting holy things.”
viii. Excommunication: The action of officially excluding someone from
participation in services of the Christian Church.
1. Anathema: A formal declaration of excommunication by a pope
or a council of the Church.
8. Animism: The belief that there are animated souls or spirits that permeate nature and
existence (e.g., streams, rocks, soil, animals, etc have souls)
a. REMINDER: Pocahontas!
9. Ethnocentrism: Evaluating other cultures according to the standards and customs of
one's own culture.
a. “My culture is better than your culture.”
10.Epistemology: The theory of knowledge and investigation of what distinguishes justified
belief from opinion.
a. “How do we know what we know?”
11.Eschatology: The study of the end of times, final judgment, and destiny.
